Villarreal deserve more against Valencia in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie (1-3)
Villarreal lost against Valencia in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter final in a match where they deserved a lot more (1-3). Los Che went ahead through Gonçalo Guedes, the Yellows drew thanks to a Santi Cazorla penalty, before the visitors won the game in added time after goals from Daniel Wass and Guedes. Harsh punishment taking into account the numerous clear chances for the Yellow Submarine.
Javi Calleja went with a 4-2-3-1 with Álvaro and Víctor Ruiz playing as a centre-back pairing and Xavi Quintillà at left-back. In attack, Vicente Iborra, Pablo Fornals and Samu Chukwueze accompanied Gerard Moreno up top.
With the match in its opening stages, the piece of play to make it 0-1 came. Santi Cáseres fouled Guedes in the box. Dani Parejo took the spot-kick, and Andrés Fernández read it and pushed it out, but Guedes was first to the rebound to fire into the back of the net (min.5).
The Yellow Submarine picked themselves up and started fighting despite the blow. Quintillà showed his quality with a perfect cross which Iborra headed just over.
With half an hour on the clock, the equaliser came. Iborra was fouled by Ezequiel Garay in the box and Cazorla took responsibility once more. His error at the Benito Villamarín did not weigh on his shoulders. The Yellows No.19 struck hard and the ball entered like a rocket. The Asturian celebrated it joyfully, as did the thousands of fans at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Villarreal could have scored their second with two chances at the end of the first half. First a Gerard shot and then a great right-footed effort from Chukwueze. On both occasions, they were denied by good Neto saves.
Calleja’s side completely dominated the second half. The Yellows consistently pushed forward searching for the second goal to put them ahead on the scoreboard. Chukwueze, Cazorla and Gerard went close. The goal failed to materialise, but Villarreal looked great.
Valencia took the victory in the closing moments. First with a placed Wass shot (1-2) in the 92nd minute, and then a counter-attack by Guedes (1-3). The second leg will be at Mestalla next Thursday (9pm CEST).
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Andrés; Mario (Pedraza, m. 79), Álvaro, Víctor Ruiz, Quintillà; Cazorla, Cáseres (Morlanes, m. 71), Iborra (Bacca, m. 66), Fornals; Chukwueze, Gerard.
Valencia CF: Neto; Roncaglia (Piccini, m. 57), Garay, Gabriel, Gayà; Ferran Torres (Coquelin, m. 60), Parejo, Wass, Guedes; Rodrigo, Gameiro (Cheryshev, m. 68).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 5: Guedes. 1-1. Min. 36: Cazorla (pen). 1-2. Min. 90: Wass. 1-3. Min. 92: Guedes.
Referee: Michael Oliver (England). Booked: Cazorla, Álvaro, Quintillà (Villarreal); Gayà (Valencia).
Matchday information: Match corresponding to the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie at the Estadio de la Cerámica in front of an attendance of 17,605.
